A Miracle and its Definition
A miracle is an extraordinary occurrence that violates the laws of nature and has no possible naturalistic explanation. The phenomenon is attributed to supernatural or praeternatural causes. This is a common belief in most religions, especially Christianity and Judaism.
Biblical Perspective on Miracles
A biblical definition of a miracle is "an event that involves the direct and powerful action of God, transcending the ordinary laws of nature and defying common expectations of behavior." In general, theophanies and divine manifestations occur for a specific purpose: giving laws (e.g., theophany at Mount Sinai); saving interventions; and the founding of cults.
Acts of Jesus Christ and Others
The Bible uses the term miraculous to describe the acts of Jesus Christ, as well as those of other men and women. In the first century, such wonders were performed with a worthy motive—the desire to save people. Today, many of the miracles performed by "faith-healers" are not motivated by a love for mankind but by a desire to make money.
Historical and Ethical Discussions
Historically, there has been a great deal of discussion and debate about the concept of a miracle. This has primarily been a conceptual issue, but it also raises a number of ethical concerns. The question of what a miracle is has implications that extend beyond the limits of the religious realm.
Conflicting Views and Implications
In some philosophical contexts, miracles have been viewed as a violation of the order and harmony of nature, which is regarded as evidence for the existence of God. In other contexts, however, miracles have been interpreted as an impediment to the progress of scientific knowledge and philosophical comprehension.
Distinguishing Miracles from Extraordinary Occurrences
The first challenge to the concept of a miracle is to distinguish it from other extraordinary occurrences that have no naturalistic cause. The most obvious example of such an event is a person who becomes well from an illness that was thought to be incurable and had no cure. As time has passed and our medical knowledge has increased, these types of events would no longer be considered to be miracles.
